Woman Faces Multiple Charges Over Drug Test Results

Demetri Dearth, 56, faces charges of mail fraud and false statements to a government agency, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Easter District of California.

According to the indictment, Dearth was the owner and operator of Advanced Substance Abuse Programs based in Redding. Dearth purported to assist employers of commercial drivers to comply with United States Department of Transportation regulations requiring pre-employment and random drug tests of commercial drivers.

Instead of sending specimens collected from drivers to laboratories and doctors for testing and review, Dearth created false and fraudulent documents purportedly signed by doctors indicating that the drug tests had come back negative, according to the indictment. Dearth then alleged billed her clients for these tests.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General.

If convicted of mail fraud, Dearth faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum statutory penalty for false statements to a government agency is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.